Machine for operating on heels



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. R. POPE Filed March 20, 1936 Iii! I rmv March 2, 1937.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON HEELS By mag.

March 2, 1937. w. R. POPE MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON HEELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1936 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON HEELS Application March 20, 1936, Serial No. 69.897

8 Claims.

This invention relates to heel making and particularly to machines for rounding off the corners produced by the intersection of the turned and breasted surfaces of the heel. This operation is commonly called spooling. In the ordinary use of a spooling machine, it must be adjusted or set up from time to time to operate on different styles or sizes of heels. When a machine is being set up, it is, of course, useless for production purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine of highly simplified design, resulting in a low machine cost and low cost of upkeep, which will perform this spooling operation effi- 5 ciently and accurately and will require a minimum expenditure of time for setting up.

Other objects will appear from the following description and drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an elevation on a larger scale, showing the relation of the cutter, heel guides and heel in operating position.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the cutter and guides,

showing successive positions of a heel during the spooling operation.

Figure 5 shows the shape of a Louis heel toplift end surface before spooling.

Figure 6 shows the same toplift shape after being spooled.

Figure 7 is a side view of a Louis heel after being spooled.

Figure 8 isa perspective view of a Cuban heel jack seat plate and breast stop.

Figure 9 shows a Cuban heel toplift end surface shape as turned.

Figure 10 shows the same top after being spooled.

Figure 11 is a side view of a Cuban heel after being spooled.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the operating end of the twin guides.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawings comprises a frame I0, carrying a flat horizontal table I2, through which projects a single vertical spindle I4 carrying a corner rounding cutter I6 at its upper end. The spindle is suitably mounted for rotation at high speed and is driven by any convenient means not shown but well understood in the art.

The table I 2 has an elevated back stop member I8 adjustable lengthwise of the table toward and from the spindle I4 under the guidance of a pair of parallel raised shoulders 20 and locked in its adjusted position by cap screw 22 inserted through slot 24. A collared adjusting screw 26 is in threaded engagement with a portion of the member I8 and provides fine adjustment therefor when the locking screw 22 is backed 01f to release the member I8. 5

Twin heel guides 28 are mounted immediately above the cutter I6. The guiding edge of each of these guide members 28 must be convex to accommodate the concavity of the portions of the turned surface of the heel which engage these 10 guiding edges, as indicated in Figure 1, the guide members having maximum width directly over the transverse diameter of the cutter I6. The guide members may conveniently be made with a semioval shape, the two together forming an oval of 15 adjustable width. Each member 28 is supported by a support member 29 which is slidable crosswise of the table between raised shoulders 30 for adjustment of the guide member carried thereby. Fine adjustment of these guides is provided by 20 collared screws 32, the supports 29 being locked in adjusted positions by cap screws 34 inserted through slots 36. These guides have oppositely positioned, arcuate edge portions 38 located closely adjacent to and concentric with the top surface 25 of the cutter. These arcuate edge portions have a radius of curvature equal to the radius of the smaller end of the cutter, which, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3, is uppermost when the cutter is mounted on the spindle I4. The edge portions 40 30 of the guides adjacent to the arcuate portions 38 are tangential thereto as indicated in Figure 12, so that the nearest approach of the work to the cutter is had by contacting the portions 38 of the guiding edges. In this figure, the circular con- 35 tour of the small end of the cutter I6 is indicated at I4.

To support the work during a spooling operation, a work holder or jack is provided having a base plate 42 slidable on the table top. I do not 40 claim as my invention the structure of the jack per se as herein described and illustrated. A heel seat plate 44 is mounted for angular adjustment relative to the plane of the table by being pivoted on a horizontal cap screw 46 which also 5 acts when tightened to lock the parts in their adjusted positions. A lip stop 48 is adjustably mounted on the seat plate 44 by means of a screw 50 inserted through a slot 52 and threaded into the seat plate. Graduations may be provided for 50 both of these adjustments to facilitate resetting according to records of prior set-ups.

The multi-tooth form cutter I6 is removably mounted on thespindle by means of a screw 54.

In practice a series of these cutters having vary- ,5;

ing concave face curvatures is required for spooling various styles of heels. The beginning of the curvature of each tooth at the top of the cutter as mounted on the spindle is always approximately tangent to a line parallel to the axis of the spindle rotation. From that point the curvature flows downward and outward as required to produce the rounded shape desired on the heel. In setting up the machine for operation, a cutter of proper shape is selected in accordance with the shape of the heels to be spooled. This cutter is secured on the upper end of the spindle I4. The heel plate 44 and lip stop 48 are then adjusted to position a heel 5| properly with reference to the cutter, as indicated in Figure 2. The operator then places a heel in the jack, and, holding it as shown in Figure 2, pushes it toward and into engagement with one side of the cutter, holding the heel lightly against the heel guide28 and continuing to push it until the heel is spooled on that side as far up toward the seat as desired, as indicated at 55, for example, in Figure 7. He then adjusts the back stop l8 to contact the toplift end of the heel and looks it in place. The machine is then ready for operation. The heel on the jack is pulled back and pushed forward on the other side of the cutter to complete the spooling operation, the heel being pressed lightly against the guide 28 during its forward movement until the toplift face engages the back stop, whereupon the heel is removed from the jack and the spooling is continued with other heels. If the cut on either side of the heel is too deep or too shallow, the guide 28 on the side at fault is adjusted in or out as required for correction.

It is'evident that, since the two cuts made in spooling a heel are independent of each other, either cut can be made before the other, and the direction in which the cuts are made is optional. Thus either or both cuts can be made in a direction progressing from the toplift face toward the seat of the heel, or in the opposite direction. One sequence of movements which may be imparted to a heel in performing a complete spooling operation is illustrated in Figure 4, but it is to be understood that this sequence is given by way of example and not limitation. As shown in this figure, a heel may be moved back until the toplift face engages the back-stop l8 to the left of the cutter l6 and guides 28. The heel is then moved sidewise toward the right until it engages a guide member 28. It is then drawnforward until the toplift end reaches the arcuate portion 38 of the uide. The heel is then moved around the forward end of the guide, then rearward in contact with the left-hand guide 28. When the toplift end reaches the back stop, the spooling operation has been completed and the heel is ready to be replaced by another heel to be spooled. The twin guides provide means insuring that contact of the heel and cutter can occur only at the proper time and place, thus relieving the operator of much responsibility, and leaving him free to pick up the next heel while spooling the first. This feature improves the product and increases the production.

The use of a single cutter keeps cutter cost at a minimum and insures that the shape cut on both sides of the heel "will be alike. It will be seen that the cutter cuts toward the heel seat on one side and away from it on the other, but it is found in practice that, by the use of the high speeds now possible plus the light out required, no detrimental effect is produced by this reversal of direction.

Although, as hereinbefore stated, variously shaped cutters must be employed for spooling heels of different styles, such cutters are customarily made with a standard diameter at the small or upper end. Hence, when a cutter is changed on the spooling machine herein described, no readjustment of the guides 28 will ordinarily be required. The guides 28 must be moved out of the Way to permit access to the locking screw 54 for the replacement of a cutter. To expedite such replacement, the guides 28 are mounted so as to be 'movable as a unit from and to their position over the spindle [4 without requiring readjustment. Each guide is carried by the bracket 55 which is mounted on a shaft 56 to rock therewith. The shaft 56 is journaled in the side walls of an elevated structure 58, on the top of which the back-stop member [8 rests. The brackets 55 are secured to the shaft 56 by a pin and a key 60 respectively. A nut 62 is mounted on the end of the shaft adjacent to the key 66. This arrangement provides accurate positioning of the guide brackets 55 considered transversely of the table by clamping each bracket directly against the finished vertical surface of the elevated structure 58. A pair of adjusting screws 63, mounted on respective brackets 64, determine the altitude of the guides 28 above the table l2 and permit accurate control of the clearance between the guide 28 and the top of the cutter, it being desirable that the space between the cutter and the guides shall be accurately maintained at only a few thousandths of an inch. To change a cutter the nut 62 is slightly loosened whereupon the twin guides as an assembly may be swung back out of the way. A change of cutter can then be conveniently made after which the guides are swung back into their exact original position and locked, whereupon the machine is ready for use with little, if any, guide readjustment tobe made.

For Cuban heels which are often spooled from the toplift end nearly to the seat as shown in Figure 11, a jack sea-t plate as shown in Figure 8 may be used interchangeably with the seat plate 44 and assembly as shown in Figures 1 and 2, by the removal of the single screw 46. This Cuban seat plate assembly differs from the Louis assembly only in that a narrow breast stop 65 is used in place of the longer Louis lip stop 48 toallow the cutter to work up to the seat without hitting the breast stop 65. The seat plate 66, Figure 8, is cut away at 68 for cutter clearance and an adjustable side gage 16 provides means for centering the Cuban heel on the breast gage 65. A breast gage may also be used for Louis heels, but for such heels the lip stop is considered preferable.

I claim:--

1. In a heel-spooling machine, a flat work table, a rotatable spindle projecting through said table, a form cutter mounted on said spindle above said table, a heel jack slidable in any direction on said table, and stationary means above said table 'engageable bya heel held in said jack to guide the movements of said heel relative to said cutter.

2. In a heel-spooling machine, a flat work table, a rotatable spindle projecting through said table, a form cutter mounted on said spindle above said table, a heel jack slidable in any direction on said table, and stationary'guide means immediately above said cutter and engageable by a heel held in said jack to limit the approach of the heel to the cutter. U

3. 'In a heel-spoofing machine, a fiat work table, a rotatable spindle projecting through said table, a form cutter mounted on said spindle above said table, a heel jack slidable in any direction on said table, and stationary guide elements immediately above said cutter, said guide elements each having a convex guiding edge engageable by a heel in said jack, said guide elements extending in a front-to-rear direction and having a maximum transverse width on a line through the axis of said cutter.

4. In a heel-spooling machine, a flat work table, a rotatable spindle projecting through said table and perpendicular to the surface thereof, a form cutter mounted on said spindle above said table, a heel jack slidable in any direction on said table, a pair of stationary guide elements immediately above said cutter and engageable successively by a heel in said jack to limit the approach of respective sides of the heel to the cutter, and means for independently adjusting said guide elements with reference to said cutter axis.

5. In a heel-spooling machine, a fiat work table, a rotatable spindle projecting through said table and perpendicular to the surface thereof, a form cutter mounted on said spindle above said table, a heel jack slidable in any direction on said table, a pair of stationary guide elements immediately above said cutter and engageable successively by a heel in said jack to limit the approach of respective sides of the heel to the cutter, means for independently adjusting said guide elements with reference to said cutter axis, and means joining said guide elements for simultaneous movement as a unit into and out of operative position.

6. In a heel-spooling machine, a flat work table, a rotatable spindle projecting through said table and perpendicular to the surface thereof, a form cutter mounted on said spindle above said table, a heel jack slidable in any direction on said table, means engageable by the top-lift end of a heel in said jack to limit the front-to-rear movement of said heel on either side of said cutter, and guide means over said cutter engageable by the sides of the heel to limit the approach of said heel to the cutter.

7. In a heel-spoofing machine, a flat work table, a rotatable spindle projecting through said table and perpendicular to the surface thereof, a form cutter mounted on said spindle above said table, a heel jack slidable in any direction on said table, adjustable means engageable by the toplift end of a heel in said jack to limit the front-to-rear movement of said heel on either side of the cutter, a pair of guide elements extending longitudinally of the table and disposed above the cutter, said elements being convex guiding edges engageable by said heel, the maximum transverse width of said elements being on a line through the axis of said cutter, and means for adjusting said elements individually in the direction of said line.

8. In a heel-spooling machine, a flat work table, a rotatable spindle projecting through said table and perpendicular to the surface thereof, a form cutter mounted on said spindle above said table, a heel jack slidable in any direction on said table, adjustable means engageable by the toplift end of a heel in said jack to limit the-v front-to-rear movement of said heel on either side of the cutter, a pair of guide elements extending longitudinally of the table and disposed above the cutter, said elements being convex guiding edges engageable by said heel, the maXi-- mum transverse width of said elements being on. a line through the axis of said cutter, means for adjusting said elements individually in the direction of said line, and means connecting said elements for movement together as a unit out of and into operative position without disturbing the individual adjustments thereof.

WILLIAM R. PQPEl. 

